Background to this inspection
Updated
9 July 2022
The inspection
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Health and Social Care Act 2008.
As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.
Inspection team
Two inspectors carried out this inspection.
Service and service type
Lambton House is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Lambton House is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.
Registered Manager
This service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.
At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.
Notice of inspection
This inspection was unannounced.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. The provider was not asked to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR) prior to this inspection. A PIR is information providers send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with five people and three relatives about their experience of the care provided. We reviewed a range of records. This included three people's care records and four medicine administration records. We spoke with 10 members of staff, including the registered manager, care and domestic staff.
Updated
9 July 2022
About the service
Lambton House is a residential care home providing personal care for up to 57 older people, some of whom were living with a dementia. At the time of the inspection the service was supporting 41 people.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People were happy at the service, and received the care and support they wanted. People and relatives said staff were caring and kind.
Medicines were managed safely. Risks to people were assessed and action taken to reduce the changes of them occurring. The premises were generally clean and tidy, but in some areas redecoration was needed to ensure effective cleaning could take place. The registered manager acted on this immediately. People were safeguarded from abuse.
Staff were supported with regular training, supervision and appraisal. People received effective support with eating and drinking. The environment had improved to make it more dementia friendly, and further improvements were planned. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests. The policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
People received the care and support they wanted. Care records were regularly reviewed to ensure they reflected people’s choices. A wide range of activities took place, which people said they enjoyed. The provider had a clear complaints process in place.
Good governance systems were in place to monitor and improve standards. The culture and values of the service promoted positive outcomes for people. Staff worked in effective partnership with a range of external professionals.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection and update
The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 12 February 2020) and there were breaches of regulation.
The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.
At our last inspection we recommended that the provider review and improve people’s dining experience, medicines management, mental capacity records and the daily experiences of people living with a dementia. At this inspection we found the provider had reviewed and made improvements to all of these areas.
Why we inspected
This inspection was carried out to follow up on action we told the provider to take at the last inspection.
You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Lambton House on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.